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New Orleans Pelicans Blog ’ Category

Cunningham, 6-8, 230, originally signed with New Orleans on December 4, 2014. In 212 regular season games with New Orleans, Cunningham has averaged 5.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game. Last season, Cunningham appeared in 66 games (35 starts) for the Pelicans, averaging 6.6 points while shooting .392 from three-point range, and 4.2 rebounds in 25.0 minutes per contest.

Originally drafted 33rd overall by Portland in the 2009 NBA Draft out of Villanova, Cunningham has appeared in 578 career regular season games with Portland, Charlotte, Memphis, Minnesota and New Orleans, with career averages of 6.1 points and 3.8 rebounds in 21.4 minutes.

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed free agent guard/forward Tony Allen.

Allen, 6-4, 213, most recently played for the Memphis Grizzlies from 2010-17, appearing in 462 regular season games (359 starts) and averaging 8.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.7 steals. This past season for Memphis, Allen averaged 9.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 steals in 71 games (66 starts).

Originally drafted 25th overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2004 NBA Draft out of Oklahoma State, the Chicago native has appeared in 798 regular season games with Boston and Memphis (441 starts), holding career averages of 8.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.4 steals. During his 13-year career, Allen has been named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team three times (2012, 2013, 2015) and the Second Team three times (2011, 2016, 2017), joining LeBron James (6) and Chris Paul (9) as the only active NBA players named to at least six NBA All-Defensive Teams.

It’s always interesting to track players who received very limited minutes on good/great teams and see how they do in an expanded role on a team with more of a need for their services. Here’s CSN Bay Area reporting on former Warriors Ian Clark:

Ian Clark is no longer on the Warriors.

It took him awhile to find a new home, but on Aug. 1, Clark agreed to terms on a one-year minimum deal (just below $1.6 million) with New Orleans.

“Being able to show what I can do in the minutes I get, I want to be able to expand on that this year,” Clark told the Pelicans’ team website. “I want to show that I can do that in extended minutes and be consistent at it, and help my team win, whether that’s on the defensive or offensive end.

The Chicago Bulls have acquired guard/forward Quincy Pondexter, the Pelicans 2018 second-round pick, and cash considerations from the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for the draft rights to Ater Majok.

The Bulls acquired the rights to Majok (58th overall selection in the 2011 NBA Draft) from the L.A. Lakers on July 7, 2016.

Pondexter (6-7, 220) is a five-year veteran of the NBA who has seen time with New Orleans (2010-11, 2014-15) and Memphis (2011-15). He has posted career averages of 5.3 points and 2.0 rebounds through 279 games (47 starts). Pondexter has a career field goal percentage of .424, with a mark of .365 from the 3-point line. He has 29 postseason games on his resume, and has averaged 6.8 points and 2.6 rebounds through those contests with a .473 field goal percentage and .414 3-point percentage.

The University of Washington product missed both the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons due to left knee surgery.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Solomon Hill has been diagnosed with a proximal hamstring tear in his left leg, it was determined following examination by Dr. Michael Gerhardt and consultation with Pelicans Director of Medical Services/Head Team Physician Dr. Misty Suri. The injury occurred while Hill was participating in a basketball workout in Los Angeles, CA.

Hill underwent successful surgery by Dr. Gerhardt in Santa Monica, CA and is expected to make a full recovery. An injury of this nature takes approximately 6-8 months to heal.

The New Orleans Pelicans today announced their schedule for the 2017-18 regular season. The Pelicans will open the season at the FedEx Forum against division rival Memphis on Wednesday, October 18, before returning to New Orleans for the team’s home opener against the defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors on Friday, October 20 on ESPN at the Smoothie King Center.

The Pelicans will head to the west coast for a three-game road trip before returning home to face the defending Eastern Conference Champion Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, October 28.

New Orleans is scheduled to appear on national television 14 times this season. In addition to the home opener against Golden State, ESPN is scheduled to broadcast the Pelicans’ matchups Nov. 17 at Denver, Jan. 26 vs. Houston, Mar. 30 at Cleveland, Apr. 4 vs. Memphis and Apr. 9 at the L.A. Clippers. TNT is scheduled to air the Pelicans’ road contests at Sacramento on Oct. 26 and Mar. 6 against the L.A. Clippers. NBATV is set to broadcast six Pelicans games – Oct. 24 at Portland, Dec. 11 at Houston, Jan. 16 at Boston, Feb. 5 vs. Utah, Mar. 9 vs. Washington and Mar. 24 at Houston.

The Pelicans will play 17 of their 41 home games on Friday (7), Saturday (5), or Sunday (5).

All home games will tip off at 7:00 p.m., with the exception of the five Saturday night home contests, as well as the home game vs. Philadelphia on Dec. 10, tipping off at 6:00 p.m.; two Sunday contests that will tip-off at 3:00 p.m. (Jan. 28 vs. L.A. Clippers, Mar. 11 vs. Utah); two Sunday contests that will tip-off at 5:00 p.m. (Mar. 18 vs. Boston, Apr. 1 vs. Oklahoma City); and the matchups against Golden State on Oct. 20 and Memphis on Apr. 4, which will tip-off at 8:30 p.m. as part of ESPN’s national double-header on those evenings.

The Pelicans’ longest homestand will be four games, which will take place twice during the season – Dec. 4-10 when New Orleans plays host to Golden State, Denver, Sacramento and Philadelphia; and Mar. 17-22 with matchups against Houston, Boston, Dallas and the L.A. Lakers. The Pelicans have three, four-game road trips – Nov. 3-9 with games in Dallas, Chicago, Indiana and Toronto; Dec. 15-23 with stops in Denver, Washington, Orlando and Miami; and Feb. 28-Mar. 7 with contests against San Antonio, Dallas, the L.A. Clippers and Sacramento.

The Pelicans will play Southwest Division rivals (Dallas, Houston, Memphis and San Antonio) four times each (twice at home/twice on the road). The same holds true for Pacific and Northwest Division foes, with the exception of the Los Angeles Lakers (one road game on Oct. 22), the Oklahoma City Thunder (one road game Feb. 2), the Denver Nuggets (one home game Dec. 6) and the Phoenix Suns (one home game Feb. 26). New Orleans will also play each team in the Eastern Conference once at home and once on the road.

Clark, 6-3, 175, most recently played for the 2017 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. In 77 games last season with Golden State, Clark averaged 6.8 points while shooting .487 from the field, including .374 from three-point range, 1.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.8 minutes per contest. Clark additionally appeared in 16 postseason games, averaging 6.8 points while shooting .506 from the floor, including .361 from three-point range and .941 from the free throw line.

Undrafted out of Belmont University in 2013, Clark has appeared in 196 career regular season games with Utah, Denver and Golden State, holding averages of 4.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 0.9 assists. Additionally, Clark has appeared in 32 career postseason contests, including two trips to the NBA Finals with Golden State, averaging 5.5 points while shooting .500 from the field, 1.3 rebounds and 0.8 assists in 11.7 minutes per game.

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed free agent guard Charles Cooke to a two-way contract.

Cooke, 6-5, 196, was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves 2017 Summer League team after going undrafted in June. Over five games in Las Vegas, Cooke averaged 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per contest.

A product of the University of Dayton, Cooke led the Flyers in both scoring (15.8) and rebounding (5.1) during his senior season, while being named to the Second Team All-Atlantic 10 and the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team.

Beginning with the 2017-18 season, each NBA team is able to carry the standard 15 players on their roster, as well as up to two additional players on two-way contracts. Two-way players will spend the majority of the year in the NBA G League, but can be called up to their NBA team for a maximum of 45 days during the season.

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed free agent forward Jalen Jones to a two-way contract.

Jones, 6-7, 220, was a member of the Pelicans’ 2017 Summer League team, appearing in six contests and averaging 13.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in Las Vegas.

Undrafted in 2016 out of Texas A&M, Jones spent his first professional season with the Maine Red Claws of the NBA G League, where he averaged 21.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals while earning NBA G League All-Rookie First Team and All-NBA G League Third Team honors, as well as being named to the 2017 NBA G League All-Star Game in New Orleans.

Beginning with the 2017-18 season, each NBA team is able to carry the standard 15 players on their roster, as well as up to two additional players on two-way contracts. Two-way players will spend the majority of the year in the NBA G League, but can be called up to their NBA team for a maximum of 45 days during the season.

Today, the New Orleans Saints (NFL) and New Orleans Pelicans (NBA), along with partner Ochsner Health System, announced that they have agreed to a long-term partnership for the naming rights to the teams’ official training facilities. Now officially known as the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, it is the only facility in all of North American sports that houses both an NFL training and an NBA training base of operations.

“This is a very special announcement for us,” said Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson. “Ochsner has been a great partner for a long time, and to see the growth they’ve undergone in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable. We look forward to a long continued partnership together.”

The Ochsner Sports Performance Center is just the latest venture between the Saints, Pelicans and Ochsner Health System. Ochsner has been a corporate partner of both the Saints and Pelicans for nearly 10 years, and Saints and Pelicans Owners Tom and Gayle Benson have a long and proud history as ardent supporters of Ochsner and the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center. The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center offers state-of-the-art cancer services for not only Louisiana residents, but also for patients that travel from all over the world to take advantage of the most advanced, compassionate cancer care available in the region. It is just one of the many extraordinary medical care services and facilities that thrive under the Ochsner umbrella.

“The naming signals a commitment from Ochsner, the New Orleans Saints and the New Orleans Pelicans to use the Ochsner Sports Performance Center to improve health and wellness across the state,” said Warner Thomas, President and CEO of Ochsner Health System. “While the Ochsner Sports Performance Center has been a hub for both basketball-and-football-themed community outreach programs and events annually including initiatives sponsored by both the Saints and Pelicans youth programs and community relations outreach programs, together the partners plan to do more. Dedicated events meant to provide education along with health screenings for the community will be geared toward not only catching diseases like cancer early, but also helping people more effectively manage chronic disease.”

Saints and Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha stated, “Ochsner’s innovative, forward-thinking, patient-first medical teams and facilities are unsurpassed, and their focus on not only treating, but also preventing injuries will translate into a very beneficial partnership. In addition, Ochsner’s community commitment is so closely aligned to that of both the Saints and the Pelicans that this makes Ochsner the perfect partner to further our collective goals and programs.”

“This is an opportunity to offer the same level of high-quality care and the proactive approach to wellness that we provide to our professional athletes and make it more accessible to athletes of all ages and all skill levels,” said David Gaines, Chief Executive Officer – System Retail Services & Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Ochsner Health System. “Together, we will enhance the existing Saints and Pelicans youth and community relations outreach programs portfolio so we can change the conversation and support the movement towards a healthier future.”

The Ochsner Sports Performance Center sits on a 19.5-acre campus on Airline Drive in Metairie, La. located in Jefferson Parish. The main football facility of The Ochsner Sports Performance Center totals 77,504 square feet which includes locker rooms, physical therapy and treatment areas, doctor offices, a multi-media studio, an organizational museum and operations and administrative offices.

In addition, there is a 75,000 square foot modernized indoor practice facility, which soars to 78 feet and allows the Saints to maintain regular practice schedules throughout the year. The indoor practice facility is also home to a 20,000 square foot workout gym, a modern full-service cafeteria, as well as an auxiliary nutritional station that adjoins the player gym.

The outdoor football practice fields at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center, where the Saints will hold training camp this summer, amasses four acres of perfectly maintained grass practice fields used through the football season, while an additional 53,000 square feet of AstroTurf serves as a general practice and mixed-use area.

On the basketball side, the Pelicans relocated to the brand new, state-of-the-art Ochsner Performance Center practice facility prior to the start of the 2013-2014 season. The $16 million, 50,000 square foot practice facility houses a 39,000 square foot practice area that features two full-sized basketball courts, offices for coaches and basketball operations staff and a team theatre for film review and game planning. The building also includes a 12,000 square foot area where the Pelicans’ locker room, players’ lounge, the latest in physical therapy and medical treatment technologies, a cafeteria, barber shop, equipment room, meeting rooms, and a multi-media studio are located.

Cook, 6-2, 184, who was signed on March 19 after spending the 2016 training camp with the Pelicans, appeared in nine games last season with New Orleans, averaging 5.8 points and 1.6 assists in 12.3 minutes per game.

Toupane, 6-7, 210, was originally signed by New Orleans on April 10, appearing in two games at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season for the Pelicans, averaging 5.5 points in 20.5 minutes.

The New Orleans Pelicans today announced that the team has signed free agent guard Rajon Rondo.

“We are excited to welcome Rajon to the New Orleans Pelicans,” said Pelicans Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Dell Demps. “Throughout his NBA career, Rajon has showed that he’s a great competitor, leader and teammate with significant playoff experience.”

A four-time NBA All-Star and member of the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics, Rondo has appeared in the postseason seven times, including two NBA Finals appearances, with playoff career averages of 14.4 points, 9.1 assists and 6.0 rebounds in 37.9 minutes throughout 96 playoff contests (all starts),

Rondo (6-1, 186 lbs) appeared in 69 games for the Chicago Bulls in the 2016-17 season, averaging 7.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds in 26.7 minutes per contest.

Originally drafted by Phoenix with the 21st overall selection in the 2006 NBA Draft, Rondo has played in 714 career NBA contests with Boston, Dallas, Sacramento and Chicago, holding averages of 10.7 points, 8.5 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.8 steals.

Originally selected by Charlotte with the 31st overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Duke University, Jackson was acquired by New Orleans in exchange for the draft rights to Dwayne Bacon (40th overall) and cash considerations.

Jackson, 6-4, 202, spent one season at Duke where he finished tied for fourth on the Blue Devils in scoring (10.9 ppg) and second in three-point percentage (39.5). In 36 games, Jackson averaged 12.4 points over 16 starts during his freshman season.

Jackson starred at Lone Peak High School (Highland, UT) where he participated in both the Jordan Brand Classic and McDonald’s All-American Game (where he was named Co-MVP) as a senior while being named a Second Team All-American by MaxPreps and Third Team All-American by USA Today.

Since being acquired in the summer of 2013 from Philadelphia, Holiday has appeared in 206 regular season games with the Pelicans, averaging 15.5 points, 6.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 31.4 minutes per contest. The 2013 NBA All-Star ranks second all-time in Pelicans franchise history in assists (1,421) and fourth in steals (307).

Drafted 17th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft out of UCLA by Philadelphia, Holiday has appeared in 504 career regular season games with the 76ers and Pelicans, holding averages of 14.3 points, 6.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals over his eight-year NBA career.

The NBA announced today that Pelicans forward/center Anthony Davis has been named to the 2016-17 NBA All-Defensive Second Team. The distinction is the second in Davis’ five years in the NBA.

Davis, 6-10, 252, finished the season ranked second in the NBA in blocks per game (2.2), and seventh in rebounds per game (11.8 – a career-high), to go along with 1.3 steals per game. Davis recorded four or more blocks 17 times this season, including four games with five blocks and two games with a season-high six; 52 games with double-digit rebounds, including three with 20-plus; and ten games with three-plus steals, including a season-high five on opening night against Denver on October 26. In the 75 games during the 2016-17 season in which he appeared, Davis led the Pelicans in blocks 57 times, rebounds 50 times and steals on 25 occasions.

The New Orleans Pelicans have announced that the team has acquired the 52nd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft from the Washington Wizards in exchange for point guard Tim Frazier.

Frazier, 6-1, 170, was originally signed by New Orleans on March 16, 2016. In 81 career games with the Pelicans, Frazier averaged 8.3 points, 5.6 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 24.6 minutes per contest. Undrafted out of Penn State in 2014, Frazier has appeared in 127 career regular season games with Philadelphia, Portland and New Orleans, holding averages of 6.2 points, 4.4 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game.

New Orleans now has the 40th and 52nd overall picks in tomorrow night’s NBA Draft.

The New Orleans Pelicans today signed guard/forward Axel Toupane (pronounced too-PON) for the remainder of the 2016-17 season, which ends Wednesday.

Toupane, 6-7, 210, most recently played for Raptors 905 of the NBA Development League. In 36 games, Toupane has averaged 16.1 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals in 27.6 minutes per contest for the 905. Undrafted in 2014, the French native has appeared in 23 career regular season games with Milwaukee and Denver, averaging 3.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game.

The New Orleans Pelicans have signed guard Quinn Cook for the remainder of the 2016-17 season, which ends this coming Wednesday.

Cook, 6-2, 179, who was originally signed by New Orleans on March 19, has appeared in six games with the Pelicans, averaging 2.7 points and 1.0 assists in 6.0 minutes per contest. Cook has played in a total of 11 NBA games this season (five with Dallas), posting averages of 3.9 points and 1.6 assists in 10.3 minutes per contest.

The New Orleans Pelicans today signed guard Quinn Cook to a second 10-day contract.

Cook, 6-2, 179, who was originally signed by New Orleans on March 19, has appeared in three games with the Pelicans, averaging 1.0 points and 0.7 assists in 2.7 minutes per game. Cook has played in a total of eight NBA games this season (five with Dallas), posting averages of 3.8 points and 1.8 assists in 10.6 minutes per contest.